Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Scottsboro, AL

Airbnb listings are allowed in Scottsboro, AL, but with restrictions. Short-term residential rentals are permitted within Scottsboro city limits but are regulated by Article I (applies to rentals for less than 30 days). Key constraints: annual permit required with occupancy limited to two persons per bedroom (or fire marshal determination); one parking space per bedroom on-property; mandatory code-compliant smoke/CO alarms, posted emergency info/floor plan, compliance with minimum property maintenance/building codes, proof of no outstanding taxes/violations, and required liability insurance of $1,000,000. Owner must list platforms and notify adjacent properties. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term residential rentals are permitted within Scottsboro city limits but are regulated by Article I (applies to rentals for less than 30 days). Key constraints: annual permit required with occupancy limited to two persons per bedroom (or fire marshal determination); one parking space per bedroom on-property; mandatory code-compliant smoke/CO alarms, posted emergency info/floor plan, compliance with minimum property maintenance/building codes, proof of no outstanding taxes/violations, and required liability insurance of $1,000,000. Owner must list platforms and notify adjacent properties.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Scottsboro. 1) Apply on a form prepared by the Building Inspections Department and pay a $25 nonrefundable application fee; 2) Submit ID, deed/legal possession instrument, list of rental platforms, sworn statement/attestations (smoke/CO compliance, posted emergency plan, zoning compliance, adjacent-neighbor notice, no outstanding taxes/violations), and a certificate of liability insurance ($1,000,000) with 30-day notice to City Clerk for cancellation; 3) Upon review and approval the Director of Building Inspections (or designee) issues an annual short-term rental permit that expires December 31; a separate City business license is also required.

1) Apply on a form prepared by the Building Inspections Department and pay a $25 nonrefundable application fee; 2) Submit ID, deed/legal possession instrument, list of rental platforms, sworn statement/attestations (smoke/CO compliance, posted emergency plan, zoning compliance, adjacent-neighbor notice, no outstanding taxes/violations), and a certificate of liability insurance ($1,000,000) with 30-day notice to City Clerk for cancellation; 3) Upon review and approval the Director of Building Inspections (or designee) issues an annual short-term rental permit that expires December 31; a separate City business license is also required.

Vrbo is permitted in Scottsboro, AL under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Scottsboro are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Scottsboro. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.